Top Ten Life Lessons You Got From Your Parents That Are Killing Your Sales in Your Business

First of all...

Your parents love you and are only trying to do the right thing, so no disrespect at all is intended with this post. But, if you truly need to reach your potential in business and in sales, the following is about the worst advice ever!

“Walk, don’t run across the street.”

What if a bus is barreling up to a light with its brakes squealing? You run! Or you can walk and be right, dead right. In the business world, Success Loves Speed. Better to run calling on the wrong person and find out from them who to talk to than to do three days of research. “Don’t yell fire in a crowded theater.”

What if there is a fire? I know it sounds crazy, but co-pilots have been known not to counter a bad decision by the head pilot when they knew it was wrong. People die when they follow stupid rules. In business, a “No Soliciting” sign is not to be paid attention to. It may as well say “Come On In.” Successful people don’t follow nonsensical signs.

“Do what I say, not what I do.”

Now I know they are only joking, but you, as a kid, see everything your parents do, and they get a laugh when they say it. So you learn that most people don’t do what they know they should do.

In the world of business, there are too many sales managers and VP’s who couldn’t close a barn door, much less make a cold call. Follow people who have not only done it, but are still doing it!

“If you don’t improve your grades, you can’t get a job.”

This one really puts a burr in my saddle. This literally ruins human beings. Imagine putting a priority on how to politic your way to a good grade in Social Studies at the expense of real life socialization? Three months of interaction with other people on a team or group in competition teaches more real world skills than you will ever learn in a classroom bargaining for grades.

Your brains are meant to discover and imagine, not to store facts. That’s what the internet is there for. The business world needs your brain.

“Don’t let anyone disrespect you.”

I never understood this one. How are you expected to control anyone else's feelings about you? Here’s what to do. Stop caring what other people think of you. In the business world, you will quickly realize nobody is even thinking about you. They are too busy worrying themselves to death about what others are thinking of them. Winners don’t trouble themselves by things over which they have no control.

“You should go to college directly from high school or you will never go at all.”

This is partly true for many who don’t go right out of high school and never go back. But if you want to succeed as an independent minded employee, salesman, or business owner, you should definitely take off a year from school and get a job.

Get a job as a server. Be accountable to the marketplace. Work for tips. Remember, only the government can make money. The rest of us have to learn how to EARN it!

“This time it’s different.”

No, it’s not. It may not be exactly the same, but people seem to think that the world began when they were born. 

Specifically in your business marketing, your success still depends on your message, directed to your exact marketplace. The delivery system of that message may have changed, but that’s about it. Provide amazing value and be consistent…same as always.

“You must have self esteem.”

What??? Imagine telling a 13-year-old to have self esteem. For what? Self esteem in people who have done nothing creates non-service oriented people. Non-service oriented people make poor business people.

The business world wants people with self control, not self esteem. Your prospects want to hold you in high esteem. They will do so if you exhibit self control and discipline. The winners know it’s about how they act, not what they feel.

“There is strength in diversity.”

No, there isn’t. Put a bunch of foxes together with a flock of chickens and see how it grows the strength of the collective.  

There is strength in talent, work ethic, team spirit, competition, muscles, desire, and determination. 

This is a great thing because we have very little control of our race and sex, but much control over our abilities and business success.

“You must keep track of the news.”

The news keeps you 90% apprised of all the events in other people's lives. If you live in New Jersey, how much do you really care about the price of tea in China? Sure it matters, just not to you. Ask yourself this. What if you spent 90% of your time getting fully apprised of your own goals, dreams, wishes, and getting new customers.

You would earn so much that you could buy up all the tea and give it away. Go get ‘em today!

The Deej

P.S. For a one-on-one marketing consultation for your business, book some time with me